Finalists for 2026 Singapore Sports Awards shortlisted
Singapore, 17 June 2026 – The selection committees for the Singapore Sports Awards (SSA) have unveiled the finalists for the 2026 edition of Singapore’s highest sporting honours.
Organised by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and Sport Singapore (SportSG), and supported by Tote Board, the 2026 Singapore Sports Awards recognise the most outstanding athletes, coaches, teams and contributors for their achievements in 2025. Winners will be announced at the awards presentation ceremony on Friday, 3 July 2026.
The main awards selection committee was chaired by Ms Grace Fu, President of the SNOC, while the Sportsboy and Sportsgirl awards selection committee was chaired by Mrs Jessie Phua, Vice-President of the SNOC.
Selection Criteria
National Sports Associations were invited to submit nominations for the various award categories based on established eligibility criteria, including sporting achievements and performances during the qualifying period. Following a comprehensive review, the selection committees shortlisted the finalists and determined the winners through a secret ballot. Independent auditing firm KPMG will tabulate the results, which will remain confidential until the awards ceremony on 3 July 2026.
Award categories
Of the 12 award categories, nine are administered by the SNOC. The finalists for the Mass Participation Sport Event of the Year, Competition Sport Event of the Year and Most Inspiring Sports Story of the Year were selected through processes managed by SportSG.
The 2026 award categories are:
- Sportsman of the Year
- Sportswoman of the Year
- Sportsboy of the Year
- Sportsgirl of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Team of the Year (Team Sport)
- Team of the Year (Event)
- Sportsboy/Sportsgirl Team of the Year (Event)
- Mass Participation Sport Event of the Year
- Competition Sport Event of the Year
- Most Inspiring Sports Story of the Year
- Best Sports Photo of the Year
In addition, Meritorious Awards will be presented to recognise outstanding individual and team performances in both the senior and junior categories. For the first time, coaches will also be recognised through the Meritorious Awards.
Dr Hing Siong Chen, Chairman of the Singapore Sports Awards 2026 Organising Committee, said: “The theme of this year’s Singapore Sports Awards, Beyond Every Limit, reflects the spirit of our athletes, coaches and teams who continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. Their achievements are not defined solely by medals and records, but by their courage to overcome challenges, pursue excellence and inspire others through their journey. We congratulate all the finalists for their outstanding performances and look forward to celebrating their contributions to Singapore sport.”
| No. | Award Category | Finalists |
| 1 | Sportsman of the Year | 1. Maximilian Maeder (Sailing)
2. Darren Ong Wei Siong (Bowling) 3. Calvin Quek Jun Jie (Athletics) 4. Tay Yu Xuan (Wushu) 5. Avvir Tham (Diving) 6. Aloysius Yapp (Cue Sports) |
| 2 | Sportswoman of the Year | 1. Stephenie Chen Jiexian (Canoe)
2. Gan Ching Hwee (Swimming) 3. Juliet Heng Jie Min (Fencing) 4. Zeanne Law Zhi Ning (Wushu) 5. New Hui Fen (Bowling) 6. Veronica Shanti Pereira (Athletics) 7. Shannon Tan Xuan Yin (Golf) 8. Valencia Yip (Kickboxing) |
| 3 | Sportsboy of the Year | 1. Ethan Chia Han Wei (Sailing)
2. Siddharth Jagadeesh (Chess) 3. Dean Kang (Roller Sports) 4. Kai Minejima-Lee (Indoor Skydiving) 5. Russel Pang (Swimming) |
| 4 | Sportsgirl of the Year | 1. Elle Koh Meihui (Fencing)
2. Mikayla Angeline Yang (Gymnastics – Rhythmic) 3. Amanda Yap Ee-Lin (Gymnastics – Artistic) 4. Julia Yeo Shu Ning (Swimming) 5. Anya Alessia Zahedi (Sailing) |
| 5 | Coach of the Year | 1. Eugene Chia Kin Weng (Swimming)
2. Sherman Cheng Feng Yuan (Sailing) 3. Luis Filipe Vitorino Cunha (Athletics) 4. Gavin Joshua Lee Tse Peng (Football) 5. Joel Lye Jun Hao (Kickboxing) 6. Ng Boon Hock (Wushu) 7. Rasic Lazar (Basketball) 8. Zhang Zhen (Gymnastics) |
| 6 | Team of the Year (Team Sport) | 1. Basketball 3×3 Men’s Team
2. Dragon Boat Women’s Team 3. Football Men’s Team 4. Tchoukball Women’s Team 5. Water Polo Men’s Team |
| 7 | Team of the Year (Event) | 1. Bowling (Women’s Team) HKGX IBF World Championships Tan Shi Hua, Cherie Tan Shi Jing, Daphne New Hui Fen Ng Lin Zhi Shayna Lim Hui Ying Bernice Ning Tay (Zheng Ning)2. Fencing (Women’s Foil Team) 2025 Asian Fencing Championships Amita Marie Nicolette Berthier Cheung Kemei Stephanie Lee Ting Yi Maxine Wong Jie Xin 3. Pencak Silat (Women’s Artistic Team) 4. Shooting (Women’s Rifle Team) 5. Swimming (Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay) 6. Table Tennis (Men’s Doubles) |
| 8 | Sportsboy/Sportsgirl Team of the Year (Event) | 1. Diving (Women’s 10m Synchronized Platform) 33rd SEA Games Ryenne Cham Ainslee Kwang Jia Ern2. Sailing (Optimist Team) 2025 Optimist World Team Racing Championship Lucas Zhihong Cao Ethan Han Wei Chia Sean Kok Wei Kum Pee Teck Woon Ashlea Tham |
| 9 | Mass Participation Sport Event of the Year | 1. Singapore T100 Triathlon 2025
2. World Aquatics Masters Championships – Singapore 2025
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| 10 | Competition Sport Event of the Year | 1. World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025
2. Toyota World Para Swimming Championships – Singapore 2025
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| 11 | Most Inspiring Sports Story of the Year | 1. Bangkit dari kekecewaan, temui ‘cinta’ semula dalam gelanggang wushu (Rising from heartbreak, rediscovering her ‘love’ in the wushu arena) By Khairul Akmal Ali of Berita Harian2. A Singapore swimmer bravely readies to compete even as she grieves the loss of her brother By Rohit Brijnath of The Straits Times 3. Former sailor Jovin Tan switches to boccia to keep Paralympic dream alive 4. 体育拼盘：紫衣军异国倾情呐喊 当狮城健儿最强后盾 5. With no chess club in their school, these girls took the initiative – and won at Singapore nationals 6. Sports Minutes: How ‘Kak Fizah’ went from healing footballers to shattering stereotypes |
| 12 | Best Sports Photo of the Year | 1. Photo by Eugene Goh
Singapore’s Ezell Low Qing Wei (right) reacts disappointedly as Thailand’s Aphiwit Limpanichpakdee (left) celebrates after the former lost the 2025 SEA Games Sport Climbing Speed category bronze medal match, held at the Bangkok Sport Climbing Centre, Sports Authority of Thailand on December 13, 2025.
2. Photo by Kong Chong Yew Singapore’s Marissa Hafezan took “keeping your head in the game” quite literally against Laos’ Sysoubanthong Manyvanh. It’s the kind of footwork that fueled her Women’s Kumite 55kg Semifinal victory at the 2025 SEA Games, en route to securing Singapore’s first Karate gold in 32 years at the Games.
3. Photo by Muhammad Adib Bin Mohamad Shah Competitors launch off the starting blocks during a heat at the World Aquatics Singapore Masters Championships 2025, held at the World Aquatics Arena, Singapore.
4. Photo by Teo Yong Kang City in a Garden: Singapore is well known for being a city in a garden, where lush flora and fauna envelopes us. The World Aquatics Championships in 2025, an SG60 signature event, gave me the very opportunity to capture sporting excellence and tell a piece of our Nation’s heritage framed through the foilage and glass sculptures. Pictured here is Molly Carlson (CAN) taking a dive from the 20m platform on 26 July 2025.
5. Photo by Kelly Wong Team Singapore’s Amita Berthier forms a heart shape with her opponent from the Philippines using their sabres during the Women’s Foil Team final at the 2025 SEA Games on 19 December 2025, in Island Hall, Fashion Island Shopping Mall, Bangkok.
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